Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-02-07
SATURDAY NIGHTS BLAZE.

SATURDAY NIGHTS BLAZE.
The Atwater Block Badly Damaged
Water Causes Serious Loss to tho Oc-
cupants-A Very Dtmcult Fire to
Manage-The LOsses-A Truckman
Injured-AbOut Twenty Thousand
Dollars Damage.
The fire and water in Atwater block Satur-
day night did about $4,000 damage. 1t
broke out at about O'Clock and the first
alarm was soon succeeded by second. The
second, beside calling out more 6remen and
steamers, drew together big throng of peo
pie to the scene. The block occupies nearly the
entire triangular space between St. John,
Grand and Olive streets. The flames had
gained much Roadway before the arrival of
the fire department. The blaze started in
the rooms on the third floor occupied by
S. @. Norton and used as paper box shop,
formerly Whites paper box shop. The
rooms were well stocked with paper and
boxes, which caused the fire to spread with
great rapidity. A dozen streams of water
were brought to bear, but for a long time
had no material effect but caused deluge
of water on the STOCK of the various shops
on the second floor and the stores on the first
floor of the building. The main, or as it is
called the new building, which occupies two
thirds of the ground, was saved from de-
struction by a sold brick partition wall and
the fremen's efforts. The fire made stub
born fight, but inch by inch it was con-
quered and confined mainly to the Norton
box shop. S. G. Norton of the box shop
will lose about $4,000, as his apartments
were entirely Quilted. Mr.. Norton resides on
Pearl street and recently succeeded Mr.. White,
who is still with him. The Barnes Tool
company's loss by fire and water is serious
They make saw tables, plumbers tools, etc
Both Norton and the Barnes company are
PARTIAL, if not wholly insured. The Far
rem Bros. Spring Bed company, third floor,
have lost about 81 200 from water. Many
beds were soaked and much iron work rust
ed. They are partially insured. John R.
Peckham, a silver platter and maker of
lacquers, occupies the apartments on the st.
John street side. His stock was damaged to
the amount of perhaps 81, 200. He had no
insurance. The Yale Castor company, sec
ond floor, are heavy losers by water. The
company estimate their % at S10,0 900. The
Window Shade company, second floor, lose
perhaps 81 200. They had no insurance
The stores on the ground floor were badly
drenched. 6. Lehr, the tailor, removed part
of his stock in time to save it, but he will
lose over 81, 900 by the water He was in
sured for So, 900 in the Rochester German
company through Wilson, Mcneil & %. II.
j. Atwater & Co.'s paper and Irvine store
was thoroughly drenched and most of the
stock was reduced to pulp. They carry
large stock aud their loss is PROBABLY from
Sc, 900 more. They are insured for $40, OO0
One store was occupied for their offices by
William J. Atwater, the New Haven Con
crete company, New Haven Pipe company,
William Atwater, father of William j.
Atwater and Nelson Tayl Tor, real estate man.
They all removed NEST of their books aud
papers and the damage here was small. MIR.
BODICE. the picture dealers, stock was dam
aged considerably by water. Mr.. Wakeiee,
dealer in asbestos, had room under the
Atwater offices and his stock is damaged by
water. ]. J. Herman, the job printers, stock
and machines are damaged somewhat. H.
B. Ives & Co., who make door bolts,
etc., and Griswold, the machin-
list, lose something The building
was so deluged with water that consldera-
BILE quantity yet remained last night, which
was dripping through from floor to floor.
The fire got through from the old part into
the new, but was stopped by the fremen.
The old part or Olive street end was built
elghteen years ago and the main part sixteen
years ago. The entire block is owned by
William j. Atwater and the estate of the late
H. J. Atwater, and the insurance upon it is
SIC, 200. The loss on building is about 81, 900
or "a, 500. There are twenty-four tenants in
the block. It was fortunate that yesterday
was not freezing weather, as thereby much
of the water in the building ran off freely.
The steam heat was on all day yesterday,
helping to dry the interior.
just how the fire originated is a mystery.
No one has offered any explanation as to
whether it was due to carelessness or was the
work of an incendiary. 1t is attributed to an
accident by the occupants of the building.
At about ten o'clock the fire was almost en-
tirely subdued, and the recall was sounded.
The fremen fought with great persistency,
although laboring under many disadvantages.
The network of wires over the building on
Grand avenue made the work of the fremen
in handling ladders quite difficult.
An accident happened to Truckman George
Morehouse, of No. 3's. He has holding on
to the hose at the top of the staircase,
when some of the other men let go
suddenly; the hose, which was under very
high pressure of water, jerked back and
knocked him down stairs. In leaving the
landing he knocked over an ash barrel that
Was standing there and this fell down stairs
on top of him. When picked up he was I'M
conscious and was carried to Alling's drug
store, and Drs. c. P. Lindsey. and Bellosa
were called. He revived rapidly under their
care and they fund that he was not danger
ously hurt. He had sprained his ankle and
sustained slight conclusion of the brain.
Last night he resting as quietly as could
be expected and will probably be about
shortly. SO his physician says.